Ninety five international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have pledged to provide $165.5 million in aid to poverty reduction programs in Vietnam next year. The information was released at a meeting hosted by the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations (VUFO) in Hanoi on Nov 17 to honor foreign individuals and foreign NGOs for their contribution to peace, solidarity, friendship, poverty reduction and development in Vietnam this year. At the event, VUFO presented certificates of merit to 121 individuals and foreign NGOs who made outstanding achievements in boosting solidarity with Vietnam and served as a bridge for foreign businesses operating in the country. In 2011, foreign donors have funded over $270 million to support Vietnam in the fields of healthcare, community development, rural areas, social issues, education, emergency aid, environmental protection and mitigation of climate change impacts. Foreign NGOs have also donated a combined aid of $1.7 billion to Vietnam over the past ten years, mainly for economic growth, healthcare, poverty reduction, and bomb and mine clearance. The Southeast Asian country now has around 1,700 domestic and foreign NGOs. (Lao Dong - Labor Nov 18 p6, Vietnamplus.vn Nov 17, Quan Doi Nhan Dan – People’s Army Nov 17)
